The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-10-22
VARIETY OF FOOD.
An Exclusive Corn Diet Unfavorabie to the
Vitality and Health of Hogs.

Vitality and Health of Hogs.
That raw corn fed out on the ear is the
cheapest material that can be used for
making pork in the Western States ap-
pears to be demonstrated beyond a
doubt. Several farmers in Central
Illinois have reported that they are able
to make a pound OF pork from ten
pounds of corn, or six pounds from
every bushel fed to their hogs. IL they
raise 40 bushels of corn on an acre of
land they obtain 420 pounds of pork,
worth at 8 cents per pound S21. This
is more than can be realized for any
kind of small grain. The fertility OF
the soil is soon exhausted when success
sive crops of small grain are raised on it.
Such is not the case, however, II corn
is raised, fed to hogs on the place. and
the manure they make applied to the
land. A crop of corn can be raised and
harvested without the necessity ofpay-
ing out much money. The seed costs
but trille, and there is no bill for the
use of harvester or thrashing-
machine. A corn crop can be produced
by the use Oh the labor and implements
that almost every farmer has. Pork
can be sent to market much cheaper
than small grain.
A prairie farm chiefly devoted to
raising corn and feeding it to hogs is
very cheaply fitted up, stocked and
managed. 1t costs but little to make
shelter for hogs that will keep them
dry and warm. A fair crop of corn can
be raised on new breaking. Old ground
intended for producing corn can be
plowed in the fall or the following
spring Almost any kind of manure
is beneficial to corn crop. The plant
ing of corn can be delayed much longer
than the sowing of small grains. The
work of cultivation can be performed
by a variety of implements. Hands
that are less skillful than those required
to raise many crops can plant, cultivate
and harvest corn. But few fences are
required on farm devoted to raising
corn and feeding hogs Hogs multiply
SO rapidly and mature so quickly that
it does not take a long time to stock y
) farm with them or to realize money
from them. In these respects they
possess great advantages over cattle and
horses. A farmer who has but small
means can not engage in most kinds of
stock-raising. But he can raise hogs by
producing the corn for feeding to them
Still it has become obvious that rails
hogs OH a diet of corn has been pro-
ductive of unfavorable results. An
,, exclusive corn diet does not produce
the requisite proportions of bone and
: muscle in animals. 1t contains too
: much carbon and not enough nitrogen.
, Breeding-sows that eat little or nothing
, except corn are poor mothers. They
generally produce small litters of pigs,
and they give but little milk. Pigs
brought up on corn alone appear to
have little vitality. They are not as
; lively as those that enjoy the privileges
of a free range and eat variety OF
: food. They appear to be more likely
/. to contract disease. The hog has be-
: come more delicate since it was kept in
pens and has had corn brought to his
n trough. During the past few years
diseases have been more common and
. more generally fatal among hogs thar
II among horses, cattle, or sheep. Or
II this account many farmers hay,
A abondened pork-raising or keep only
J enough hogs to supply their household
IL with meat They do not dare take thu
o risks that attend keeping large number.
o of hogs and feeding them the corn they
raise.
!" The most successful hog-raisers nov
> advocate the substitution of othel
IL grains, fruits and vegetables for hal
:, :, the corn they formerly fed, and the,
II rely chiefly on corn for making fat, bu
10 they give their hogs bran, shorts
!, !, ground rye. oats and barley. boilet
- potatoes, roots. apples and pumpkin
y or squsahes. They find the health an,
I. general condition of their hogs bette
81 when they are allowed Il change of food
- They are better breeders, and the SOW
10 give more milk. The pork produced i
- not as fat as that made from corn, bu
~ it is generally preferred. There is les
J" leaf-lard, but more meat that is suitabl
. for making bacon. The hogs are NOR
dcUlVc anu tthC more cNerclSe. fOF tlll
20 reason their circulation and digestio
=, - are better. If they do not mature a
~ =. quickly, the risks of keeping them az
10 less. 1t is admitted that the cost of feed
II ing them is somewhat greater, as it cost
. considerable to grind the small grains
10 Il, and to cook the potatoes and othe
y. vegetables. A more diversified syster
- - of farming is required if many hogs ar
10 10 kept on place, and corn only fun
81 nishes half the food that is give
'- them.
~ - 1t is obvious that some substitute 70
T. corn must be found in many portion
- of the country that are now bein
settledup. Much of the territory adapte
to the profitable production of corn
already in the hands of individuals VIII
have improved it. What is known a
'h the /" corn belt" is somewhat narrow
re and it does not reach nearly across til
II. continent. There are extensive region
'o in the district north and west that al
III we'll adapted to various kinds of proc
w. ucts, but in which little or no cor
III can be raised. The farmers who MAX
IL homes in these regions will find
y difficult to get along without raisin
w hoos They will mt first miss corn Ii,